17th April, 2017
Afrihealth Optonet Association(AOA), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) has called on the Niger Deltans to embrace its Sustainable Citizen Participation (SCP) project that seeks to institutionalise citizen’s participation in local governance.
Dr Uzodinma Adirieje, National Coordinator, AOA made the call on Monday in Abuja.
Adirieje explained that SCP means that citizens would be able to engage with their government on a regular and sustained basis in non violent ways towards the development of their community.
He noted that currently, citizens were only able to interact with leaders and politicians at the leaders’ leisure.
”For example, during an election the candidate will campaign for the peoples support by meeting with the people, speaking with them and being open and available to them,
”But once they get into office, these leaders, who once had so much time for the people, become unaccountable and cold.
”They want the people to vote for them but once the election is over the people’s voice means nothing. This project seeks to change that,” he said.
Adirieje added that by pushing for SCP, the project hopes to make leaders accountable every day they spend in office and not just during elections.
He said that the project hoped that elected offices being held accountable will result in better politics and more promises being kept.
The coordinator also said that the formal involvement and participation of CSOs and women groups (WGs) in local governance in the Niger Delta region was virtually non-existent, at best very poor.
”This has compelled these groups to resort to violence and unconstitutional means in their uncoordinated efforts to benefit from the dividends of democracy and corporate development in Nigeria.
”This project seeks to promote a concept of SCP the institutionalization of citizen participation in local governance, decision-making, development and democratic processes at 81 LGAs in nine states in Niger Delta.
”It will also mobilise 1,620 citizens to formulate a SCP community Plan of Action, democratically select key development activities and engage with stakeholders in all targeted 81 LGAs to implement the activities.
”It will raise awareness on SCP concept and secure support from stakeholders, e.g. citizens’ NGOs, and local government officials in 81 LGAs and 9 states
”It will empower 162 CSO and women’s group leaders from 81 CSOs and WGs as change agents (CAs) through training, sub-granting and technical assistance to promote the institutionalization of SCP.
Adirieje added that the project would last for 24 months and was fully being funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDP).